By Rajnish Mishra This is not the poem I always wanted to write. Its time has not come, not yet. This one is on what I always wanted to write, but never did. I wanted to write of shiuli flowers in bloom. No, it’s not English, it rises from the soil: the name, not … Continue reading Its time has not come
Being
By Rajnish Mishra It's difficult to be what you are destined to be, more difficult to know what you are destined to be, and then to live, not reaching there, ever. Nothing comes for free. The world takes the fee of life. Sometimes it simply condemns you to live your death as you … Continue reading Being
I’m eight
By Rajnish Mishra I‘m eight. Now, that I’ve seen eight, nine, I’m sure, will not be as fine as they write in those tales. Tales are just tales, I know, I’m eight. So, they talk to me, I listen, and nod, then I do what I want. I’ve seen when I … Continue reading I’m eight
I Tried To Stay Away
By Rajnish Mishra I tried to stay away, from poetry, write not in verse but prose. Four months I managed to stay cleansed of verse, four months exactly, not a day more, nor less. Then it happened, the form at least. I know now that I can’t choose it, it chooses me. … Continue reading I Tried To Stay Away
What’s the harm?
By Rajnish Mishra My mobile’s memory stores details, but it’s old. It’s not smart, my mobile, and old. I don’t delete some numbers. They’re dead, I’ve been told. Not the numbers. I thought to call, once at least, at least one of them, then I did not call. What if I … Continue reading What’s the harm?
Dreams
By Rajnish Mishra My father is a dreamer, has always been. Only now his dreams have enlarged spheres. Even then, back then, he dreamed a lot and talked of his dreams, of a suave move, a shrewd plan, a sure guide, ‘for dummies’ to the treasure at the end of the rainbow. Times … Continue reading Dreams
I Had a Dream
By Rajnish Mishra I had a dream, not a long time ago. It’s not the kind that I have anymore. In that dream I went back in time to a place that’s not there anymore. They were playing cricket there. I was playing my own age. So, I stood and watched them having all the … Continue reading I Had a Dream
Then I Left
By Rajnish Mishra, I come home after years and carry bribes along: bribes for minds to remember, to remind me the forgotten me. I carry chocolates for all. Death is of two kinds: permanent or temporary removal from a world. In my world of past I’m dead. I’m dead, nearly, for many. I’m dead … Continue reading Then I Left
Tricks Language Plays
By Rajnish Mishra My daughter, eight, looked at me with eyes: half-enquiring, half-afraid, eyes with faith, half, at least, and asked suddenly: Are we born again after death? I looked at my wife. Our eyes met. She smiled: that corners of the eyes, so-it-did-happen smile, and I knew it was not she who dropped a … Continue reading Tricks Language Plays
IF
By Rajnish Mishra Work is worship. It earns returns. Wives with a poet husband want his work bring returns. Time invested in poetic affairs does not reflect upon account. Life’s short, wants unlimited, each second must count. “Don’t build your Nobel in the air”, she says, motherly, practical and fair. Pardons poor husband’s … Continue reading IF
Academy of the Heart And Mind 